'Study of this crucial and problematic relationship in modern novels and films from Romance cultures. Exploration of the mother-daughter bond as literary theme, social institution, psychological dynamic, and metaphor for female creativity. Readings include Western myths and diverse theories of family arrangements (Rousseau, Freud, Chodorow, Rich, Irigaray, Giorgio, Mernissi, Nnaemeka).

'This course will focus on portrayals of women in nineteenth through mid-twentieth century America, particularly in the context of nature and landscape. We will explore how women, often objectified in visual images of the period, appropriated established devices or developed new images and structures to represent womanhood in their own terms. Texts will include selected poetry, sketches, autobiographical essays or memoirs, short stories, novels, paintings, films, and photography.'

'Since the 1990s Latin America has witnessed increasing societal and political debates over sexual and reproductive rights. Issues such as abortion, gay marriage, transgender rights, sexual education, and assisted reproductive technology have risen to the top of political agendas after decades of silence, taboos, and restrictive or nonexistent legislation. The course provides a survey of sexual and reproductive rights in Latin America highlighting the disparities within the region and analyzing the multiple factors behind current policies.'

'We will be reading a number of key feminist texts that theorize the construction of sexual difference, and challenge the oppression of women. We will then address queer theory, an offshoot and expansion of feminist theory, and study how it is both embedded in, and redefines, the feminist paradigms. This redefinition occurs roughly at the same time (1980s/90s) when race emerges as one of feminism's prominent blind spots.

'This course offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of feminist ideologies among Latinas throughout the United States. Employing a range of sources from archival texts to artistic images and ethnographies, we will study the histories and representations of Latina feminist theories across academic and aesthetic approaches.

'This course will examine the writing of Emily Dickinson, both her poetry and her letters. We will consider the cultural, historical, political, religious, and familial environment in which she lived. Special attention will be paid to Dickinson's place as a woman artist in the nineteenth century. The class will meet at the Dickinson Museum (280 Main Street in Amherst and accessible by Five College bus). Enrollment is limited to ten students.'

'This course focuses on cinema from Iran after the revolution in 1979 which brought the current Islamic Republic into being. We look at how this cinema, especially from the last twenty years, approaches and questions family relationships and the love upon which they are generally understood to be based, drawing upon Shi'i and broader Islamic conceptions of appropriate social and gender roles. Students acquire familiarity with ideas of family in contemporary Iran as well as the major directors and actors in contemporary Iranian film.'

'This course focuses on cinema from Iran after the revolution in 1979 which brought the current Islamic Republic into being. We look at how this cinema, especially from the last twenty years, approaches and questions family relationships and the love upon which they are generally understood to be based, drawing upon Shi'i and broader Islamic conceptions of appropriate social and gender roles. Students acquire familiarity with ideas of family in contemporary Iran as well as the major directors and actors in contemporary Iranian film.'

'This course presents an opportunity for students to apply gender theory to practice and synthesize their work in gender studies. Connections between the academy and the community, scholarship and social action will be emphasized. Students will arrange for a placement at a non-profit organization, business, or institution that incorporates a gender focus. A weekly seminar with other students provides a structured reflection forum to analyze experience and methods.'

'Classic German cinema, 1919-1933, anticipated many present-day gender debates. In educational films, tragedies, travesties, and comedies, many of which were re-made later (Girls in Uniform; Victor Victoria), Weimar Cinema questioned binary definitions of gender, and represented gay and lesbian sexual orientations as standard forms of human sexuality.